A Language Lesson on WAMC

Kim, Xuehan, Miriam, and Sabra

Decorating Sugar Skulls at Malta Montessori

Callie Browning

Mandarin Student

Recruiter for a Local Video Game Developer Passes HSK, China’s National Proficiency Exam

Callie passed the HSK, China’s national proficiency exam for non-native speakers after studying with CRLC for 18 months. She spent a semester in China while in college and then resumed her studies later with CRLC. Browning passed level three reading/writing and level one in speaking which is a testament to all of her hard work! To celebrate Callie’s accomplishment, we have published a blog post about her language journey and success with the exam.

In 2024, we were delighted to welcome back Kayani & Oudou to teach our students!

KAYANI ILSE

American Sign Language Instructor Kayani Ilse’s inspiration and passion for American Sign Language began when her family adopted a deaf child. The joy she experienced learning and communicating in ASL blossomed into a deep love and respect for sign language and the deaf community. Kayani has earned both a Bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language Interpreting and a Master’s degree in Teacher Preparation with a concentration in Deaf Education. She has more than ten years of professional experience as an educational ASL interpreter. She is a credentialed K-12 teacher of the deaf. She believes learning should be fun, engaging, and authentic to each individual. Kayani is looking forward to sharing her love of ASL and deaf culture with you. Team member since 2011

OUDOU SANOGO

French Instructor Oudou taught French at Capital Region Language Center from 2013-2016 and has returned to bring his love of language and cross-cultural communication to the community in which he lives. Over the past 15 years, Oudou has worked in the fields of education and international development at the intersections of technology, innovation, training, and data analysis. A multilingual and Fulbright alumnus with a BA in English Literature from Hartwick College and an MA in sustainable development from Brandeis, Oudou is an avid advocate for transformational partnership through which we can effectively address shared challenges in our communities. In addition to English and French, he fluently speaks Bambara and Miniaka, two local languages in Mali. In addition to working as a teacher, Oudou also worked as translator/interpreter In Mali and the United States. He uses his passion for language for bridging cultures and building mutual understanding. During his free time, he’s either busy learning new tech-related skills or out in the outdoors hiking and exploring nature with his family. Team member from 2013-2016, Rejoined in 2024

We are grateful for teachers and staff who joined us in 2024, and the many who have been with us for multiple years!

Kim Andersen, founder and director of Capital Region Language Center and Empire State English, traveled to Mexico and Colombia through the EnglishUSA 2024 Certified Trade Mission in April.

Mexico and Colombia are two of the top-sending countries with high levels of interest in English language programs. Andersen joined two dozen EnglishUSA member programs from 18 states. The group traveled to Merida & Mexico City (Mexico) and Medellin & Barranquilla (Colombia).

The trip included networking opportunities and meetings between the EnglishUSA delegation and potential agents, as well as academic and business partners. EnglishUSA coordinated student fairs with prospective students and parents in both Mexico and Colombia. EnglishUSA and its member programs also engaged with representatives from the US Chambers of Commerce, officials from the Consular Offices and U.S. Commercial Services Branch offices, and hundreds of prospective students who are eager to come to the U.S. to study English.

Could your company benefit from language training?

We offer English instruction for non-native speakers, business English refreshers for all English speakers, as well as world language instruction in American Sign Language, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese and more. Click below to learn more or contact us. And check out some highlights from our 2024 workplace partnerships!

RPI leaders, faculty, and staff are headed to Japan! They are traveling as part of the University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research and Development in Semiconductors for the Future (UPWARDS) program, a multi-university partnership to advance semiconductor research and workforce development in the U.S. and Japan. To prepare to collaborate with their Japanese colleagues, the RPI team partnered with Capital Region Language Center to learn about Japanese culture, traditions, and language. Yoko guided them through practices such as proper chopstick usage, bowing, and business card exchange.

Miriam Rogers delivered a 3-hour introduction to Spanish workshop at LifeWorks Community Action in June. The team at LifeWorks is learning Spanish so that they can improve their service to clients and strengthen their community connections. We are so happy to be able to help in that effort!

Troy’s Turnkey Workplace Services Partners with CRLC, Turning Showroom into a Classroom for English Classes in the Evening.

Mike Paris

Turnkey Workplace Services

 “I realized Turnkey had 80% of what we needed to grow. We just needed the language piece. That’s when I found Capital Region Language Center. It is amazing what Kim and Faith did in just the first five weeks. These are individuals who could not have a conversation (in English). Now, they are asking how I’m doing when we see each other in the office. Capital Region Language Center was the missing piece in taking Turnkey to the next level.”

We believe in the power of learning new language skills from a young age and welcome opportunities to introduce children to world languages.

Bilingual Story Time at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library

Participants get to join CRLC instructor for stories and songs, and learn new languages. We have run story times in Spanish and Mandarin where stories get read in both English and Spanish or Mandarin. The sessions also include a fun vocabulary lesson. These are a great way to nurture a child’s love of reading and practice language skills. We have loved partnering with the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library and would love to bring these programs to more places and in more languages!

Silent Game Night

Our instructor Amy does an amazing job running silent game night at the library. These photos are from our game night at Guilderland Library in July.

For more than a decade, Malta Montessori School has partnered with Capital Region Language Center to provide Spanish language instruction for students in Pre-K through third grade. Every fall, students prepare their own sugar skull while learning new words, singing songs and reading books together about the holiday.

Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year Gala put on by the Chinese Community Center of the Capital Region took place February 11th at The Egg in Albany. Xuehan Liu, one of our Mandarin teachers, participated with her dance group, performing a classic Chinese dance called, “The Scroll Book.” Xuehan is in the center holding a scroll. One of her CRLC students attended the event to show support!

International Thanksgiving Potluck

Thanksgiving at the school allows us to take time to meet other language learners in our community and to share some of our most favorite foods. We transform the school into a restaurant with a kitchen (the break room) and dining rooms (the classrooms). We love to see dishes from many different cultures represented, not just traditional Thanksgiving food!